CAMPAIGNERS are encouraging people to register to vote in next month’s county elections ahead of a deadline at the end of today.
And Tom Hayes, pictured, is eager to encourage the most underrepresented group to take part – young people.
In 2013’s poll, 147,024 of a possible 500,499 voters went to the polls. But traditionally turnout among people aged 18 to 24 is even less less than other groups. By contrast, those aged 65 and above are most likely to vote.
City councillor Mr Hayes said he wanted to see more young people get involved with the democratic process.
With volunteers from Oxford University he held a street stall last weekend. Yesterday he added: “University colleges do a brilliant job of registering students to vote, however some young people slip through the cracks.
“That’s why we’re making a push to register as many students as possible. It’s important for students to vote in local elections because the county council decides so many of the issues that they say affect their lives.
“Until younger people vote in the same numbers as older people in this election, they’ll struggle to encourage the county council to invest in the things they care about.”
Statistics from last year’s Brexit referendum showed that since 2013 the number of people registered to vote in Oxfordshire fell to 486,832.
Those who want to have until midnight. For information visit: gov.uk/register-to-vote
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